180Solutions and Hotbar to merge

In what many web users could see as a potential bad omen, the companies behind the adware suites known as Zango Search Assistant and Hotbar will be merging. The companies, 180Solutions and Hotbar, are merging to increase the potential user base and build off each others technology, so as to better suit the needs of efficient advertising. While both companies have been facing numerous legal issues and have themselves been filing lawsuits, they are still doing well enough to expand and will be collectively moving to Bellevue, Washington. Will these companies ever appear legitimate in the eyes of security companies like Lavasoft and Symantec? More importantly, will they be trusted by the web-using masses?